Automobile steering-gear.



' Patented Apr. 3, I900. W. L. CROUCH.

AUTOMOBILE STEERING GEAR.

(Apylication filed July 14, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VALKER LEE CROUCH, OF NEW BRIGHTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMEN TS, TO THE COLUMBIA MOTOR AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

AUTOMOBILE STEERING-G EAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 646,728, dated April 3, 19C 0.

Application filed July 14 1399.

Serial No. 723,771. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALKER LEE CROUCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Brighton, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Steering- Gear, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improved steerin ggear for automobile-vehicles. I

The invention will first be described, and then set forth in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan View of the front axle, wheels, and steering-gear connections. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the axle and steering-gear connections and shows at one end of the axle the wheel-spindle and at the other end the hub of the wheel on the spindle. Fig. 3 is a detail view, on a large scale, showing the'pivot connection of the spindle to the axle. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the parts shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 5 is a top view of the parts shown in Fig. 3.

The letter A designates the front axle of a vehicle, having each end bifurcated to receive a pivoted axle-arm Z), on which the wheel 0 turns. The end of'the axle has two projecting lugs or cars d, one above the other, and between them is the pivoted end I) of the axlearm. A pivot-bolt 6 extends down through the two ears cl and also through the end I) of the axle arm or spindle, whereby the latter may swing on the pivot in a horizontal plane. The wheels 0 are secured on the spindles by a nut f or other suitable means. The axle arm or spindle b is made rigid with respect to the pivot-bolt e by pins 9, which extend through both the end b of the spindle and the pivot-bolt. A lever H is rigidly attached to the pivot-bolt, so that by swinging the lever the spindle and wheel may be turned. The manner of attaching the lever H to the pivot-bolt is shown in Fig. 4. The upper end of the pivot-bolt has a collar-flange e, which sits on top of the upper ear (Z, and a key-pin t' fits in a socket or recess at one side of the said bolt at and just above the collarfiange. The lever H has a hole that takes over the upper end of the pivot-bolt, and at one side of said hole is a notch 1 that takes around the key-pin. This key-pin therefore keeps the lever H from turning loose on the pivot-bolt. A nut 7' on the bolt confines the lever to its position. It will now be seen that when the lever H is swung one way or the other the spindle-arm b and wheel C will turn.

An upright guide-post 76 is at the center between the two lovers H and is supported on a bar l, lying in a horizontal plane and curved or bent backward from the front axle A and having its two ends secured to the axle by bolts m m near each of the two pivot-bolts e. The bar Z, which between its ends is curved backward, acts as a truss to the axle and gives to the latter increased stability. A collar n is on the guide post and rests upon the said bar Z and serves to step the guide-post.

Two arms 0 and a link 0' constitute a triangular-shaped frame or plate which is secured by a key 10, fast to the guider ost, and arod q is jointed at one angle of this frame and connects with the lever H at one side, and another rod q in like manner connects from the'other angle to the lever H at the,

other side. It will now be seen that any partial turn given the guide-post it will result in turning the two axle arms or spindles b and the two front wheels C as may be desired. If one spindle is turned backward, the other spindle will be turned correspondingly forward. The front axle A itself always remains stationary in contradistinction to pivoting on a king-bolt and is always parallel with the rear axle.

The upper end of the guide-post 70, though not shown in the drawings, will have a suitable handle-bar.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is--- Thecombination of a front axle which always remains parallel with the back axle and having each end bifurcated; an axle arm or spindle secured in each bifurcated end by pivot-bolts, c, said bolts made rigid with respect to the axle arms or spindles by pins, g, and each bolt having a collar-flange, e, which rests on the upper member of each bifurcation; two levers which rest on said collar- In testimony whereof I affix my signature flanges and are keyed fast to each pivot-bolt;

in the presence of two witnesses.

a truss-bar, Z,lying in a horizontal plane and having its two ends rigidly secured to the r 1 i axle and between the ends curved or bent WALKER LEE CROUCH backward; a guide-post stepped in the said truss-bar; and connections from the said guide-post to each of said levers, as set forth.

Witnesses:

THos. O. BAILEY, CHARLES B. MANN, Jr. 

